Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship
Women in Public Finance
Named after Mary Barnes, the scholarship program is dedicated to women in finance. Mary Blackwell Barnes was a dedicated servant of public finance and she has contributed significantly towards the same in Virginia. With a career span of more than two decades, Mary was the epitome of determination, hard work, commitment, and confidence.
Through the scholarship program, the Women in Public Finance organization hope to bring awareness about careers in public finance. Virginia Women in Finance supports its mission by awarding the scholarship program. The program awards five under or post-graduates with scholarship funds worth between $1,000 and $5,000.
The scholarship program aims to educate exemplary women who are capable of emulating Mary Barness. The female students are expected to have the positive attitude and determination that Mary had. Successful applicants must be majoring in public finance and related courses.
Scholarship Summary
Named after Mary Barnes, the scholarship program is dedicated to women in finance. Mary Blackwell Barnes was a dedicated servant of public finance and she has contributed significantly towards the same in Virginia. With a career span of more than two decades, Mary was the epitome of determination, hard work, commitment, and confidence.
Through the scholarship program, the Women in Public Finance organization hope to bring awareness about careers in public finance. Virginia Women in Finance supports its mission by awarding the scholarship program. The program awards five under or post-graduates with scholarship funds worth between $1,000 and $5,000.
The scholarship program aims to educate exemplary women who are capable of emulating Mary Barness. The female students are expected to have the positive attitude and determination that Mary had. Successful applicants must be majoring in public finance and related courses.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible Grade: College Sophomore – Postgraduate
- Maximum Age: Any
- Required GPA: Any
- Geographic Eligibility: District of Columbia, Virginia
- Gender: Women
- Race/Ethnicity: Any
Key Information of Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship
Study Details
Area of Study
Public Finance
Country of Study
United States
Specific Schools
Any
Application Requirements
Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.
- Essay
- Grade transcript
Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship Timeline
January 1, 2025
Application Opening Date
Applications usually open in early January.
May 31, 2025
Submission Deadline
The deadline for applications is around the end of the month at 11.59 pm Eastern.
August 2025
Award Announcement
The award winners are announced in August. Check the website for the announcement.
How to ace the Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship
Write compelling theme-based essays
The instructions in the application process require applicants to write and submit essays. Ensure to write a personal and career essay. The personal essay should reflect who you are as a person while the career essay should demonstrate your career goals in relation to public finance.
Highlight your leadership achievement
Highlight all the extracurricular activities you are engaged in that demonstrate your leadership capabilities and achievements. These should include volunteer work, work experience, and debate club participation.
Demonstrate your unique attributes
Ensure to demonstrate the character traits that make you unique such as your determination to succeed. Also, ensure that you think out of the box and make your application’s uniqueness stand out from the crowd.
Have good academic records
Having a good academic record will help you win the scholarship by supporting your claim. Present all the academic records (transcripts) that demonstrate your academic achievements.
How the Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship is Judged
Applicants are judged based on the essays submitted. The personal and career essay should be well written and proofread. The essays are judged based on career goals and what influenced the goals as well as the applicant's ability to organize thoughts and express themselves through the application essay.
Why We Love the Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship
Networking opportunity
The scholarship provides the recipient with the unique opportunity to network. The recipient is able to have the avenue to network and meet up with women established in public finance.
Recognizes scholastic and leadership achievement
The scholarship program recognizes the recipients for their scholastic and leadership achievements. They do so to honor Mary Barnes who was a highly motivated scholar.
Powerful alumni of Women
The participants of the scholarship program are from the state, local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and investment banks. The women involved in the program are financial advisors, trust officers, and investors.
5 Facts About Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship-Women in Public Finance
The committee may conduct phone interviews
The scholastic committee at times decides to conduct phone interviews during the selection process in order to choose the best recipient for the award.
Recipients are invited to accept the scholarship
The award winner(s), along with a parent or mentor, is invited to accept the scholarship at a Virginia Women in Public Finance event.
Focuses on providing networking and monitoring opportunities
Women in Public Finance provide strong role models, promote the benefits of a career in public finance, and answer questions in regards to challenges specific to working women and precisely those in finance.
Mary was only 44 years old
Mary Blackwell Barnes was only 44 years old when she passed away in 2009, but her memory lives on through the scholarship named after her and the contributions she made in public finance in Virginia.
Applicants need to write two essays
Applicants are required to submit two written essays of 500 words each- the essays are personal and career-based.